Electric signal for railroads.



H. J. 'WARTHEN. BLEOTRIG SIGNAL FOR RAILEOADS.

APPLICATION 211.21) mm: 24, 1912.

Patented Mar. 1-7, 1914..

I amen 01 have invented HARRY J. We zmann,

i) OFFIfiE.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR RAJIRQADS.

, specificatio of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

' Application filed June 24, 1912 Serial no. 705,619.

To alt whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY J. WARTHEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVashingiton, in the District of Columbia, certain Im rovements in Electric Signals for, Railrca is, of which the following is a full and complete specification.

My invention is an improvement in elecelectric-plow1 and wimp-rail, for making electric connec i n etween a moving train and conductors alongside the track.

My invention is es eoiallyyadepted for u e inconnection with railroads in which the train is provided with the customary air-brake mechanism in addition to the electric signal apparatus; whereby in case the plow. or any of the parts cooperating therewith should break or become disarranged the air-brakes on the trainwould be -'the present instance-the is a side view apphedautomatically, or a danger signal displayed; all as hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the appended claim; i In the accompanying drawings, which form a. part of this specification: Figure 1 of an electric-plow, and connections, constructed in accordance with my, invention. -Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the electric-switch which is. operated by the plow. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of theelectric-plow. Fig.5 is a diagram View illustrating a track circuit whichgma-y be used in connection with my invention.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of'the drawings.

The present invention is part of an electric train-control system, for which-I have filed an. application for Letters-Patent of the UnitedStates on'even date herewith.

In-c'arrying out my invention 'I employ place a conventional form of electric-plow,

to a side, as 6, of the car or locomotive of the train, a bracket-plate. 7 bolted to said attaching-plate, and a shoe 8 pivoted to the lower end of the bracketplate and projecting outwardly therefrom, said shoe being maintained in a normally raisedpositi'on by means ofa spring 9. In

tion of the air-brakes.

trio signal apparatus for railroads, and relates more especially to those devices, as an prises the ramp-rail,

consisting of an attachingplate 5, secured block, and't-herelay 25 is rails at the other end of said block, whereby pivoted shoe 8 ofthe plow is hollowed out to form a closed {cavity 10, and into this cavity projects a 12 extending the air-brake be understood,

should either the shoe or pipe connections become broken or from any cause the air-pressure in the train-linc pipe would be exhausted and cause an applica- The pipe 11 being connected directly to the shoe of the plow mores therewith, and in order to permit of a free movement of said pipe a rnbbenpipc connection 14 is interposed between in the present instance the pipe 11 serves to operate the lever 15 of an electric-switch for connecting the wires 16 and 17 of an electric circuit, said pipe being connected to the switch-lever by a rod 18. The connections between the shoe of the plow and lever of the electric-switch are such that such lever engages the contact-point, as 19, to complete the circuit from battery 21: on the cab of the locomotive when the shoe is in its normally raised position, and is moved beyond the switclrpoint when said shoe is depressed by engagement with the usual ramp-rail or conductor 20. Included in this circuit is a solenoid 22, which may operate any mechanical device or devices either to display a signal or apply the air-brakes on the train, and in the present instance one of the wires, as 17, extending from a pole of the battery 21 is tapped to include said solenoid. 5

The ramp-rail 20 is one of the conductors of a partial track circuit adapted to connect with the cab-circuit and maintain the solenoid energized openg'and this partial track circuit comp connectingwire 23;armature 24 of a track-relay 25, and a wire 26 connecting the contact-point 27 of the armature to one of the track-rails, as 28", the aforementioned armature being controlled by any approved form of trapk-circuit. In the ordinary form track-circuit the battery, as 29 (Fig. 5), is connected to the 0pposite rails of the track at. one end ofthe connected to said when the battery is short-circuited, for instance bya train entering the block. and

the relay the lat ter 1s denergizedcausing-the armature to shunting. the current from drop. .In the present instance, however, for the purpose hereinafter ex 'lained I have inthe pipes 11 and 12, and

when the electric-switch is .cluded' the supporting-posts, as 30, for the 7, lug 7 arm36 plate 36 wire 37 and wire ramp-rails, in thetrack-circuit, and therefore 38 to the other side of the battery. one side of the relayis connected directly In the operation of the devices for insur: to'the rail 28 by wire-31, and the otherside ing a proper engagement of the electric-- 5 of the relay is connected by wire 32 to a plow with the rampiails of a; railroad proplate 33 (Fig. 1) at the rear 'end of the supvided with a track-circuit and'a. partial porting-post, and .a second plate, as 34:, at. track-circuit, the latter including said rampthe forward end ofsaid supporting-post is rails, the current from the cab battery'will connected by'wire 35 either directly to the pass through the partial track-circuit back 1 6.lzotherftrack-rail, 28, or in series with other to said cab battery should all the parts he 'supporting-posts, as shown in Fig. 5. This properly working and the partial trackvI track-circuit may therefore betraced as ;circuit be unobstructed. On the other hand 75 ffollowsi' from one side of battery 29 to should the shoe of the plow break off or be track-rail 28, wire 35, bearing-plate 34c, disconnected from the pipe 11 the air-brakes laibase of supporting-post 30, bearing-plate on the train would be applied by the preswire'32, relay 25, wire 31, track-rail sure being exhausted from the train-line 28Fto the other side of said battery. Now, pipe 13; or should the plow become disas :will', be understood, the "current may placedthe solenoid 22 would be denergized "be shunted from the relay either through. on account of the current from the 'cab -2 0-"&'=thewhee1s and axle of a train entering said battery being shunted therefrom, and a. block or a short circuit from any other similar operation would take place in case 'c'ause;'-a n d, furthermore, the relay will be dethe ramp-rail in the block ahead of the train energized in case the ramp-rail is moved out should become displaced, cutting out the of approximation with the plow by the distrack-relay in said block, and, of course, 2a=placementfof any one, of the supporting said track-relay would also be deenergized ."posts' 3 0, inasmuch as such displacement should a train be located in that block.

.--would' break the circuit by moving the base Having thus described my invention, what .gfiof the 'post away from either one of the I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let- 'plates' -33, 34r;;:; It will be understood, of ters Patent, -is: v 50' course-,that any displacement of the ramp- In an electric signal and train. control rail in a block would be detected or deapparatus for railroads, the combination I energize the solenoid on a train when it with a solenoid, an electric circuit conreached the adjoining block, inasnnichas trolling the same, a switch for opening an the relay afi'ected bynthe displaced rampclosing said circuit, a plow and aremovable 35 rail-is electrically connectedwith the ramp supporting member, a contact on said mem- ,rail in said'adjoining-block, as hereinbefore her, and connections between the plow and -described. In the present instance I also switch for operating the latter, of contact- .proVide'for deenergizing the solenoid 22 in plates'above and below the aforesaid contact j .ca se the electric-plow should become loose and normally out of contact, and electric 4 0 and-displace the shoe with respect to the connections between said plates and the con- 1 ramp-rails alongside the track, and for this ductorsto the battery for shunting the cururpose the supporting bracket 7 is pro-, rent from the solenoid when the contact of vided with a projecting lug 7, which when said supporting member engages eitherone the parts are in proper alinelnent or position of the contact-plates, substantially as shown 45 is located midway between two conductors o'r and for the purpose set forth.

arms 36, 36"of a plate 36' which is connected In testimony whereof I have signed my by awire 37 to the wire, as 38, extending name to this specification in the. presence from-saiiil solenoid to the battery, whefireby of two subscribing witnesses. in case t e lu 7: engages eit ler one o the ;.50.' contact-arms 1% the current will be shunted HARRY WVABTHEN from the solenoid, passing from one side In the presence of-- of the battery by wire 16, switch-lever 15, W. S. DUYALL, connecting-rod 18, shoe 8, supporting-plate IIORAOE S. BEALL.

h Gopies of this patent may be obtained for'five cents each, by addressing th Commissioner of Iatents,

' Washington, D. G. 

